Editor’s Note: Lou’s email inbox is often full to overflowing with questions from listeners. As such, he has enlisted the WDW Radio Blog writers to assist him in answering some of your questions.

“Hello Lou! I am visiting ‘The World’ mid-February with my wife. This will be the first time visiting the parks with our grandson. We want to get this trip started off in the right direction… which attraction should we visit first if we are taking a two year old? God Save the Queen. Bexley St. Leonard”

Bexley, thank you for your question, and special thanks go out to all of our listeners in the UK for faithfully supporting WDW Radio! My name is Kendall Foreman, and I am an editor and contributing writer for the WDW Radio Blog.

It is my great pleasure and privilege to respond to your question by offering some suggestions for making your grandson’s “first” Walt Disney World (WDW) attraction experience a joyous and memorable one for him as well as for your wife and you. I am happy to offer you whatever assistance I can; although, I must confess that my eagerness to narrow the list of options is not altogether altruistic. You see, my husband and I are planning to take our young son to WDW for the first time next year. Like your wife and you, we want so very much to make the perfect choice for that once-in-a-lifetime experience.

To that end, I have already spent a great deal of time reviewing the suitable options for little ones. It is my hope that my narrowed list will aid you in your efforts to choose just the right attraction to share with your grandson. I am confident that a well-chosen attraction, a little bit of luck, and a whole lot of love will make for a magical memory the three of you will cherish always. What follows is a well-thought-out list of attractions for your consideration.

Magic Kingdom (MK)

For a toddler, Magic Kingdom Park is the best candidate for a memorable inaugural park visit. A simple walk down Main Street, U.S.A., is likely to captivate a wide-eyed little one. But once you reach the hub, the question arises as to where to head first.

“it’s a small world”

Being as little ones all seem to love music and bright colors, “it’s a small world” is an obvious top choice. Far from jarring or hectic, the smooth and slow-moving boat ride around the globe is a classic that many guests view as iconically Disney and a must-do tradition. Not only will most toddlers enjoy the winding voyage set to the Sherman Brothers’ catchy song, they will be captivated by hundreds of cheerful audio-animatronic child-size dolls as well as larger than life animals. (Note: This ride is almost sure to have a relatively short wait time due to the continuous running of boats that can carry at least 20 passengers. That is a bit of good news for those waiting with young ones.)

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Whether or not the toddler in your party has been introduced to the bear of very little brain, A.A. Milne’s Winnie the Pooh, they will enjoy bouncing along with you through the Hundred Acre Wood in a great big honey pot. Before entering the amusing dark ride featuring Pooh Bear, his friends, classic songs and storybook scenes, guests have the opportunity to enjoy the ride’s jolly queue. It is a playful interactive wonderland that includes Rabbit’s Garden play area, touch-sensitive honey screens, instruments and more. The queue is absolutely delightful, so skip the Fastpass+ for this attraction, and enjoy the entire experience.

Peter Pan’s Flight

Beloved by park guests of all ages, Peter Pan’s Flight is considered by many to be one of WDW‘s greatest dark rides. The Imagineering feat that allows your pirate ship to take flight is so convincing that children are certain to believe Tinkerbell’s pixie dust has worked its magic. While Captain Hook makes several appearances throughout the attraction, his menacing presence is on the lighter side. (Personal side note: I visited Walt Disney World for the first time at five years of age. Peter Pan’s Flight is the most vivid memory I have of that visit.)

Epcot

The Seas with Nemo and Friends

Most little ones are familiar with the feature films Finding Nemo and Finding Dory, and that is why they are sure to be thrilled when they see their favorite characters throughout this slow-moving dark ride. This simulated “underwater” adventure has guests boarding Clamobiles on a quest to help find Nemo again. Disney Imagineers expertly positioned special effects glass upon which to project the beloved animated characters, and then surrounded them with incredibly realistic coral, plant life and more to create familiar scenes from the movie. Of course, your grandson will be oblivious to all of that. He will be too busy pretending to swim alongside Nemo and his friends to the song “The Big Blue World.” The ride climaxes with all of them joining real-live sea creatures in a 5.7 million gallon aquarium.

The wonder of interacting with Nemo and his friends does not end when the ride is exited. The entire pavilion is filled with tanks featuring tropical fish, sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, manatees and more. Then, chatty toddlers can make their way to Turtle Talk with Crush where they have the opportunity to actually speak and have questions answered by the 150 year old turtle. Seeing your tiny traveling companion converse with Pixar pals is sure to make for wonderful memories. As an added bonus, the dark ride leading into the pavilion is almost always a walk-on with little to no wait.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios (DHS)

Disney Junior Live on Stage

One of perhaps 2 or 3 attractions that appeal to toddlers at DHS, this live stage show is sure to be a hit with any little one who enjoys TV shows found on Disney Junior. Children are encouraged to sing, dance and play along with characters from Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Be sure to have the camera/phone ready to capture all the fun. (Note: This production is presented at set times throughout the day. For that reason, if the hope is to make this the first attraction experience at DHS, I recommend checking the show schedule so that you can plan accordingly.)

Disney’s Animal Kingdom (DAK)

Kilimanjaro Safaris

Most small children are overjoyed and awestruck when they first see the wild animals living in the local zoo. Just imagine the reaction there will be on a Kilimanjaro Safaris expedition into the Harambe Wildlife Reserve at DAK. If you make it the first attraction you visit in WDW, it may also be your little one’s earliest glimpses of real-live African animals such as black rhinos, elephants, lions, gazelles, warthogs and many more all living in a variety of natural habitats. To add to the excitement, some of the animals have been known to come within a few feet of the open-air safari vehicles. So, have your camera/phone at the ready because magical moments are practically guaranteed on this awe-inspiring excursion! Fair warning, long lines form quickly on this attraction, so be sure to set this as one of your FastPass+ selections. (Note: The safari covers rough terrain; consequently, health warnings are posted for those with back problems, neck injuries, etc. Please inquire before losing valuable park time waiting to take a tour that may not be safe for someone in your party.)

Bexley, I hope this helps you narrow the list of attractions to consider visiting first with your two year old grandson. Whether you select one I have recommended or you go with another, I am confident your first together will be more memorable than you can imagine!

Kendall is an editor and contributing writer for WDW Radio. She began visiting Walt Disney World in 1991 with her family and has continued to visit the resort with her husband. Her home-away-from-home is Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and she believes a perfect day at WDW includes a dip in the Lava Pool, a ride on Splash Mountain and a Pineapple Dole Whip. Follow her on Twitter @kl_foreman.

Plus…. Skipper Canteen nears opening date, Menu changes for Pecos Bill’s and Tortuga Tavern, and more!
It’s that time of year again. A time when hinges creak in doorless chambers, and strange noises echo through the halls. It’s Halloween time once again, not just at Gracie Manor, but all throughout the land. So whether it’s tricks or treats, costumes, candy, masks, or make-up, I hope everyone has a delightfully ghoulish All Hallows’ Eve! Now, it’s time to summon the spirit of the October edition of the WDW Radio Newswire….

We begin this edition of the Newswire with some breaking news out of Epcot. For this one, let’s venture through Future World‘s western breezeway and make our way into The Land pavilion. Soarin’ is officially set for a lengthy closure just after New Year’s. The attraction will be closed beginning Monday, January 4, 2016, with a tentative re-opening date scheduled for Summer 2016. An exact opening date hasn’t been announced yet, but I’d expect the attraction to be back up and operational in early summer as opposed to late summer. Soarin’ is by far one of, if not the biggest attraction draw in all of Epcot, so the quicker it’s back in action the better. The closure comes as no surprise however, as construction is already underway on the addition of a third theater for Soarin’. Once the other two theaters close in January, they’ll both receive audio and projector upgrades to match that of the new theater. The attraction will also open with a brand new film: Soarin’ Around the World. The new film will feature sights from globe-trotting destinations like the pyramids of Egypt, China’s Great Wall, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, just to name a few. Just like its counterparts, the third theatre will generate 87 Guests per trip. This addition should help alleviate some of the excessive wait times for the popular attraction.

Time to board the Monorail and venture over to Magic Kingdom Park now for an update on the Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen restaurant currently under construction in Adventureland. The new table service dining experience based off the nearby Jungle Cruise attraction will take up the space formerly occupied by the Adventureland Veranda. Work has been ongoing at the site since mid-July. No official opening date has been announced, however it has been confirmed the restaurant will be open for business by the end of this calendar year. The restaurant shares a kitchen with the Liberty Tree Tavern, which has been closed itself since Monday, July 6th to upgrade the aforementioned kitchen. The Tavern is set to re-open on Thursday, November 19, so look for Skipper Canteen to follow suit shortly thereafter.

For more news on the Magic Kingdom dining front, let’s make our way over to Frontierland, where Pecos Bill’s has just seen a major change to its menu. The burgers, chicken, and french fries are long gone. In their place, you’ll find an all new menu featuring a southwest flare. Burritos, rice bowls, and fajita platters highlight the new menu at Pecos Bill’s. You’ll also find southwest salads and chicken enchilada soup amongst the offerings as well. Entree items are priced between $9.99 and $14.49, with the most expensive items being the fajita platters. But, the biggest highlight to the menu isn’t a food item, as you can now obtain your very own Country Bears Themed Jug filled with your favorite fountain beverage!

The menu change at Pecos Bill’s has also sparked a change in the menu offerings at Adventureland’sTortuga Tavern. The “open seasonally” quick-service spot used to feature a menu similar to that of the new one at Pecos Bill’s. So Tortuga Tavern completely transformed its menu, with feature items now including pulled pork sandwiches, BBQ chicken sandwiches, BBQ beef brisket sandwiches, as well as a variety of roasted corn and vegetable salads. Entree items are priced between $7.99 and $11.99.

Time to park-hop over to Disney’s Hollywood Studios now, as an all new character Meet & Greet has just opened up in Animation Courtyard. Guests can now meet Minnie Mouse amidst a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse themed backdrop. The Meet & Greet can be found right next to Disney Junior: Live on Stage.

For more news out of DHS, let’s head over to Sunset Boulevard, as two quick-service dining spots have just shuttered for refurbishment. Both Catalina Eddie’s and Rosie’s All-American Cafe closed up shop on Sunday, October 11. A re-opening date of Friday, November 20, has been slated for both establishments, just in time for the start of the busy Thanksgiving period.

Well, that’s gonna do it for the October edition of the WDW Radio Newswire, but I’ll be back again next month with lots more news, notes, and happenings from Walt’s beloved Florida Project!

Plus…New props on display at Great Movie Ride, 2013 Spring Training schedule at Wide World of Sports Complex, and more!

by Don Myers

The Springtime thaw is on the horizon, and with it comes news and happenings from the Vacation Kingdom of the World. So let’s get to it, time for the latest edition of the WDW Radio Newswire…..

We begin this edition of the Newswire inside Magic Kingdom, as there’s some exciting news to report on one of the park’s most iconic attractions: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Back in the October 3rd edition of the Newswire, I detailed plans for a series of new interactive elements coming soon to Big Thunder Mountain’s queue. Well, it looks like the residents of the tiny town of Tumbleweed are nearly ready to delve into the interactive era, as several new props have begun to spring up around the mountain. The tarps have all been removed to reveal a series of new elements, including wooden crates, mining equipment, and other large pieces of machinery. In addition, several new signs are now in place throughout the queue to tie these new interactive elements in with the attraction’s existing storyline. The interactive additions are not functional as of the writing of this article, but all indications seem to hint that things may be getting quite “explosive” at the mountain in the very near future! There’s no official word on when the interactive elements will be operational, but with the vast majority of the props now in place it shouldn’t be too long before the preview stages begin.

For more news out of Magic Kingdom, it’s time to shift our focus over to exterior refurbs, as a pair of buildings have recently been covered in decorative tarps. Let’s start things on Main Street USA, where the exterior of the Hall of Champions is now undergoing a cosmetic facelift. Following the hub over to Liberty Square, we also find the exterior of Sleepy Hollow Refreshments under construction. In both cases it’s still business as usual inside, as the two locations will remain open to Guests throughout the duration of the refurbs.

Time to park-hop over to Hollywood Studios now, as there’s a pair of newsbits to address. Let’s begin with The Great Movie Ride, which has just received some new film props inside the queue. Guests waiting in line can now catch a glimpse of the chess table used by R2-D2 and Chewbacca in Star Wars Episode IV, as well as the infamous striped sweater worn by Freddy Kruger in the second installment of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise.

For our second Studios newsbit, we make our way over to Animation Courtyard for an update on Disney Junior- Live on Stage. The show has been on hiatus for about a month now, but the attraction is scheduled to resume operations later this week. Cast member previews have already taken place, and the attraction is currently in a state of “Soft Open.” The official re-opening date is set for Friday February 15th, at which time Guests will be able to get a look at the revamped cast of characters which now includes Sofia the First and Doc McStuffins. Unfortunately these additions lead to a few subtractions, as the duo will serve as replacements for the characters Handy Manny and the Little Einsteins.

For our final stop on today’s Newswire, we head out of the parks and venture over to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Major League Baseball is nearly ready to begin its 2013 Spring Training schedule, which means its time once again to welcome in the Atlanta Braves! Champion Stadium has been the Spring Training home field for the Braves since 1998, with the 16th season set to get underway on Friday February 22nd at 1:05 pm against the defending American League Champion Detroit Tigers. Atlanta’s home schedule features 18 games at Wide World of Sports in total, with the Braves taking on rivals such as the New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies. Here’s a look at the complete schedule:

Fri Feb 22nd Detroit Tigers 1:05pm

Sat Feb 23rd N.Y. Yankees 1:05pm

Mon Feb 25th Miami Marlins 1:05pm

Tue Feb 26th Washington 1:05pm

Fri Mar 1st Washington 6:05pm

Sun Mar 3rd Detroit Tigers 1:05pm

Thu Mar 7th Detroit Tigers 6:05pm

Fri Mar 8th Toronto Blue Jays 1:05pm

Sun Mar 10th Miami Marlins 1:05pm

Tue Mar 12th St. Louis 1:05pm

Fri Mar 15th N.Y. Mets 1:05pm

Sat Mar 16th N.Y. Yankees 5:05pm

Mon Mar 18th Philadelphia 1:05pm

Wed Mar 20th Pittsburgh 1:05pm

Thu Mar 21st Washington 6:05pm

Sat Mar 23rd Houston Astros 1:05pm

Mon Mar 25th N.Y. Mets 1:05pm

Thu Mar 28th Houston Astros 1:05pm

Well, that’s gonna do it for today’s update. But before we call it a wrap, let’s take a look at the results of our last poll. The question was:

What is your favorite decade at WDW?

. 1970’s

. 1980’s

. 1990’s

. 2000’s

. 2010’s

And the winner is……

The 1990’s with 43% of the total vote! Second place was a tie, as the 2000’s and 2010’s, finished deadlocked at 22%. The 1980’s followed with 11%, and the 1970’s brought up the rear with just 2%. Once again, a big thank you to everyone that took the time to vote! Okay, now it’s time for this week’s question:

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.